The NBA playoffs tip off Saturday with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks coming into the postseason because the +275 having a bet favorites. This is fasten for the longest odds for the having a bet favourite coming into the postseason since 2000, making this a wide-open playoffs on paper.
The 4-seed Phoenix Suns are appreciated to win the West, making them the 0.33 staff seeded fourth or decrease to be a convention favourite coming into the playoffs, and the primary for the reason that 2021 Los Angeles Lakers misplaced within the first around as a 7-seed in opposition to the Suns.
The Golden State Warriors are the second one favorites within the West. They’re the primary six seed to be a minimum of a -200 street favourite in a playoff collection within the time 35 seasons.
Era the Los Angeles Lakers are 7th in identify odds at Caesars Sportsbook (14-1), they’re collection underdogs in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be the first occasion LeBron James has ever closed as a playoff underdog.
Playoff Traits
Unders had been 51-34-2 within the playoffs endmost season, together with 21-6 in Video games 5-7. Unders are 223-186-10 over the time 5 postseasons, together with 68-49-2 in Video games 5-7. Unders in Recreation 1 also are 35-24-1 over the endmost 4 postseasons.
House groups are 42-33 ATS in Recreation 1 of playoff collection within the endmost 5 postseasons. Unders are 42-32-1 in Recreation 1 in that span (35-24-1 in endmost 4 postseasons).
Over the endmost 5 postseasons, residence groups are 88-61-1 ATS within the first two video games of playoff collection, together with 47-32 ATS within the first around. Highway groups are 36-20 ATS in Video games 6 and seven in that span (13-4 ATS in Recreation 7).
Over the endmost 11 postseasons, groups appreciated by way of a minimum of six issues are 227-170-4 ATS (.572). Endmost postseason, groups appreciated by way of a minimum of 8.5 issues had been 2-8 ATS, future favorites of 6-8 issues had been 17-3 ATS.
Phoenix Suns (-470) at LA Clippers (+350)
That is the widest collection value in a 4-5 first-round matchup since 2018 when the Cleveland Cavaliers had been -600 in opposition to the Indiana Pacers (gained in 7 video games).
The Suns had been -200 favorites after they beat the Clippers within the 2021 Western Convention Finals (Clippers +170).
The Suns had been 2-2 outright and 3-1 ATS in opposition to the Clippers all over the steady season. Kevin Durant performed in none of the ones video games.
The Suns had been 8-0 outright and 6-2 ATS with Kevin Durant within the lineup. Overs and unders had been 4-4.
Phoenix is 8-4 ATS in first-round video games beneath Monty Williams.
The Clippers had been 40-42 ATS this season. They had been 28-24 ATS with Kawhi Leonard within the lineup.
Clippers street video games had been 26-15 to the over, future Clippers residence video games had been 26-14-1 to the beneath.
Philadelphia 76ers (-900) at Brooklyn Nets (+600)
The 76ers had been 48-34 ATS all over the steady season, the most efficient mark within the NBA, and fasten with the 2016-17 season for the 76ers’ ideal mark within the endmost 30 seasons. Overs had been 45-36-1 in 76ers video games.
The -900 collection value is Philadelphia’s second-largest collection value as a favourite within the endmost 35 seasons, handiest in the back of the first around in 2021 when the 76ers beat the Wizards in 5 video games as -1000 favorites.
The Nets had been 43-39 ATS all over the steady season with unders going 44-38. They had been 13-14 ATS since Mikal Bridges‘ debuted Feb. 11 (unders: 15-12).
The 76ers went 4-0 outright and 3-1 ATS within the steady season in opposition to the Nets. Overs had been 3-1.
Document Rivers is 16-31 ATS in attainable series-clinching video games, together with 3-14 ATS since depart the Boston Celtics.
Philadelphia used to be 9-6 ATS when laying a minimum of 8 issues this season. On the other hand, out of the six occasions they did not safeguard, they misplaced outright 5 occasions.
A Nets collection win will be the greatest collection disappointed for the reason that 2020 Western Convention semifinals when the Denver Nuggets (+850) disappointed the Los Angeles Clippers. The endmost occasion a +600 underdog gained a playoff collection outdoor of the 2020 pandemic bubble used to be within the 1st around of 2012 when the Philadelphia 76ers (+900) disappointed the Chicago Bulls nearest Derrick Rose were given harm.
Cleveland Cavaliers (-210) at New York Knicks (+175)
That is the primary occasion the Cavaliers had been appreciated in a playoff collection with out LeBron James at the roster for the reason that first around in 1996, after they misplaced the collection as -185 favorites in opposition to the Unutilized York Knicks.
The Cavaliers had been 27-16-1 ATS within the steady season when appreciated by way of a minimum of 4 issues and 16-21 ATS in all alternative video games (7-10 ATS as underdogs).
Tom Thibodeau is 6-21 outright and 11-16 ATS as a postseason underdog. The Knicks had been 1-4 outright and ATS within the playoffs endmost season beneath Thibodeau with unders going 4-0-1.
The Knicks went 3-1 outright and ATS in opposition to the Cavaliers this season, all as an underdog, together with successful the endmost 3 conferences outright.
Knicks overs had been 24-16-1 as a favourite this season (18-20 as underdog).
Sacramento Kings (+225) vs. Golden State Warriors (-275)
The Kings are the primary top-3 seed to be a minimum of a +200 first-round underdog within the endmost 35 seasons, future the Warriors are the primary staff seeded sixth or decrease to be a -200 collection favourite in Spherical 1 in that span. They’re the fourth street staff within the endmost 20 postseasons to be a minimum of a -200 street favourite within the first around.
The Warriors are the 7th staff within the endmost 20 seasons to be a street favourite in a first-round playoff collection regardless of being a 6 seed or worse. 5 of the former six in fact misplaced their collection as street favorites, together with every of the 4 cases.
The Warriors had been 11-30 outright at the street this season, the fourth-worst document within the NBA, handiest forward of the Spurs, Rockets and Pistons. The Warriors had been a league-worst 12-29 ATS at the street, the second-worst mark within the steady season by way of any staff within the endmost 30 seasons, handiest forward of the 2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers (10-26 ATS in shortened season). On the other hand, the Kings had been handiest 18-23 ATS at residence.
Era they struggled at the street, the Warriors had been 33-8 at residence this season, together with a league-best 27-13-1 ATS. They had been 5-0 ATS as residence underdogs. On the other hand, the Kings had the most efficient ATS street document within the NBA at 27-14, together with 14-7 ATS as a street favourite and 13-7 ATS as a street underdog.
Each groups additionally had drastic home-road general splits. Overs had been 28-12-1 in Warriors street video games, in comparison to unders going 23-17-1 at residence. Kings residence video games had been 25-15-1 to the over, future Kings street video games had been 25-15-1 to the beneath.
The Kings exceeded expectancies this season, changing into the most important longshot to win any category within the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL within the endmost decade, successful the Pacific at 250-1. Their win general used to be additionally 34.5, the bottom out of any staff to succeed in the playoffs. They entered the season 350-1 to win the NBA identify and 150-1 to win the Western Convention.
Mike Brown is 48-34-1 ATS in his postseason profession (.585). Steve Kerr is 68-57-2 ATS in his postseason profession (.544).
The Warriors had been 45-35-2 to the over this season, fasten for the fourth-highest mark within the NBA.
Boston Celtics (-1000) vs Atlanta Hawks (+650)
That is Boston’s greatest favourite value in a collection for the reason that first around of 2008 after they had been -8000 favorites in opposition to the Hawks (gained in 7 video games).
The Celtics have gained and lined five-straight conferences, together with all 3 conferences this season.
Hawks video games had been 47-36 to the over this season (.566), the third-highest mark within the NBA, together with 29-18 as a favourite. Celtics video games had been 42-39-1 to the over, however 25-15 at residence.
Unders are 17-5-1 in Hawks playoff video games over the time two postseasons, together with 5-0 endmost postseason.
The Celtics had been 17-15-1 ATS when appreciated by way of a minimum of 9 issues this season. On the other hand, they had been handiest 24-9 outright.
A Hawks collection win will be the greatest collection disappointed for the reason that 2020 Western Convention semifinals when the Denver Nuggets (+850) disappointed the Los Angeles Clippers. The endmost occasion a +600 underdog gained a playoff collection outdoor of the 2020 pandemic bubble used to be within the 1st around of 2012 when the Philadelphia 76ers (+900) disappointed the Chicago Bulls nearest Derrick Rose were given harm.
Play games-in event winners are 6-3 ATS of their first playoff recreation.
The Hawks have now not been greater than a 7.5-point favourite this season with Trae Young within the lineup. With Younger, the Hawks are 3-3 outright and ATS as a minimum of a four-point underdog, together with their win within the play-in event as five-point underdogs on the Miami Heat.
Two seeds are 99-73 ATS within the endmost 5 postseasons. Over the endmost six postseasons, seven and 8 seeds are a mixed 44-82-1 ATS.
Memphis Grizzlies (-135) vs Los Angeles Lakers (+115)
That is the primary occasion LeBron James has ever been an underdog in a first-round playoff collection.
That is the third-best form for a 7-seed in a first-round playoff collection within the endmost 35 seasons. The Lakers had been -175 street favorites in 2021 in opposition to the Suns (misplaced), future the Celtics swept the Nets endmost season as -130 favorites. That is simply the 6th first-round 2-7 collection within the endmost 35 seasons the place the favourite didn’t have a minimum of -200 odds.
Unders are 14-3 in 17 conferences since James joined the Lakers in 2018. The house staff gained and lined all 3 conferences this season (the Grizzlies had been appreciated in all 3 regular-season conferences).
Lakers overs had been 25-16 at the street in comparison to 18-24 at residence. The Lakers’ ultimate 8 regular-season video games went over the whole, however their play-in recreation in opposition to Minnesota ended 23.5 issues beneath the whole regardless of getting to time beyond regulation.
James’ groups are 3-14 outright and 6-11 ATS in Recreation 1 of playoff collection at the street.
James is 148-115-3 ATS within the playoffs (.563).
Play games-in event winners are 6-3 ATS of their first playoff recreation.
Two seeds are 99-73 ATS within the endmost 5 postseasons. Over the endmost six postseasons, seven and 8 seeds are a mixed 44-82-1 ATS.
